"How do we maintain a sense of ethics in today’s success-driven business world when others all around us seem to bend the rules at their convenience?"

The controversial question was begging to be asked, considering the news environment these days, and the Assn. of Industrial Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL) courageously tackled the subject head on at its annual winter meeting, held at the PGA National Resort & Spa in West Palm Beach, FL, March 20–24, 2002.

The first day’s keynote speaker was Frank Bucaro, who contends once the myth of "happiness at any cost" is rejected in our society, we will see a renewed interest in solving the key challenges to business. Ultimately, it is our trustful relationships with customers that will determine any success.

The following day provided the 225 meeting attendees with an exclusive AIMCAL market report on worldwide metallized film and paper markets, assembled by Corey Reardon, principal of AWA Alexander Watson Assoc. BV, Amsterdam. Titled "Metallized Paper & Films: World Sourcebook 2002," the report addresses direct and transfer process metallizing and provides in-depth statistics on regional markets. It draws on an enhanced base of input from within the industry and assesses trends in technology, purchasing, and the overall business environment. Price of a report subscription is $1,500 for AIMCAL members $3,500 for non-members. (Also see the PFFC March 2002 Coating & Laminating supplement for a summary of several related market analyses by AWA Watson.)

A complementary report from Lewis Kontnik of Reconnaissance Intl. addressed "The Holographic Industry: Product, Structure and Opportunities." Clearly, explained Kontnik, with terrorism in the forefront of so many country’s concerns, issues surrounding security, anti-counterfeiting, tracking, and authentication are of prime importance and represent numerous opportunities for metallizers, coaters, and laminators.

The morning’s general session ended with a market overview from Rexam Image Products’ David Lisk, detailing opportunities in coated/laminated products in the electronics market; a review from DuPont Teijin Films’ Trevor Gazard analyzing "PET Film, Where Now?"; and an "OPP Update" from AET Films’ Marty Aleksis.

The final day included the annual business meeting at which the new AIMCAL officers were announced. Frank Sereno, president of Promo Technologies, is the new president; Paulo Raugei, Galileo Vacuum Systems executive VP, is the organization’s VP; Bill Yoder, sales manager of Industrial Products with Lamart Corp., is treasurer; and David Fletcher, president and chief operating officer of Bekaert Specialty Films as well as CEO of Innovative Specialty Films, another Bekaert co., becomes past president.

Also at the meeting, converter member Bob Korowicki of Vacumet addressed a concern over what he describes as a PET dumping issue by Indian polyester manufacturers and a request for AIMCAL to investigate and take a supportive position on the matter. In response to his request, Robert Connelly, president and chief operating officer of Madico and a member of AIMCAL’s board of directors, admitted while such an issue certainly catches his attention and concern as a converter, he reminded the business meeting attendees that AIMCAL is an international organization with an interest in representing all of its members’ concerns fairly.

The PET dumping issue will be addressed in a future meeting, with the intent of gathering documentation to determine AIMCAL’s response to its members’ needs.

Concluding the gathering was a report on the economy from Dr. Robert Fry of DuPont. Fortunately, this year’s annual report included some encouraging news on the progress of US and world economies. While this recession has not held true to patterns set in previous recessions, according to Fry, with housing starts and car sales having generally weathered stormy economic activity, Dr. Fry feels confident US industry can expect a slow but sure return to better times with more significant improvement to be seen for the industrial sector in 2003.